Disabled Archery from a Judges Perspective. Presented By Gary Bellamy on behalf of S.C.A.S

Disabled Archery from a Judges Perspective. Presented By Gary Bellamy on behalf of S.C.A.S

What are we as Judges looking for when dealing with archers with disabilities? Disabled Archery or Para Archery, is a vast subject as it covers all the general rules of archery and then the disability rules. As it is a vast subject I will be keeping to the basics for now, but if you have any questions throughout this presentation, please stop me and ask.

Archery is a fully inclusive sport for all and this should be encouraged at all levels of our sport. The rules that have been put in to place for disabled archery, whether it be Para or disabled archery are in place to make sure everyone can compete at an equal level, without any beneficial advantage over one another. As judges we should not get overwhelmed by the task of following and enforcing the rules, we should be knowledgeable, calm, efficient and fundamentally fair. If you are in any doubt or concerns allow the archer to participate with their dispensation in accordance with the rules, any issues can be resolved afterwards.

Archery GB Rules of Shooting and World Archery rules. Archery GB Rules 1100 Policy. Disabled archers should be in a position to participate and compete to the best of their ability. If disabled archers are unable to comply with a Rule of Shooting then they will be allowed dispensation from that Rule and any reasonable adjustments necessary will be made. Any variations must be related to the needs and the safety of the person concerned.

Club and Non Record status Tournaments. Archers can self declare a disability and use any variation of the Rules of Shooting, provided it is safe to shoot. Evidence of disability should ONLY be sought under exceptional circumstances.

Record status Tournaments. An archer can still self declare a disability, but for automatic dispensation, must be seen to make compliance with the rule Impractical. Judges are not required to seek evidence from an archer of his/her disability, but do need to validate that an archer and equipment is in accordance with the rules.

Examples of documentation that can demonstrate eligibility. Blue badge scheme Check ownership and date!

Examples of documentation that can demonstrate eligibility. AGB dispensation card Check ownership & dispensation AGB no longer issue these, but still valid.

Examples of documentation that can demonstrate eligibility. Local Council Sight impairment card

Examples of documentation that can demonstrate eligibility. NHS Visual impairment certificate

Examples of documentation that can demonstrate eligibility.. BBS Sight Classification

Examples of documentation that can demonstrate eligibility. Current National Classification certificate. For Non Eligible archers and National classification archers. Check dispensation.

Examples of documentation that can demonstrate eligibility.

Examples of documentation that can demonstrate eligibility.. Old style classification form: Valid for RS & WRS at National events, NOT International, Check Dispensation.

Examples of documentation that can demonstrate eligibility..

These are all good examples of eligibility evidence and there are many others. How does their disability effect their Archery? Are they shooting safely within the rules and as such any devices used suitable & practical. In cases of doubt, dispute or complaint, the archer should be allowed to participate. (Afterwards forward any concerns direct to AGB via the Record status paperwork).

If an archer, disabled or not is claiming a dispensation, but do not have the correct evidence with them. Under Archery GB rules: The should be allowed to participate in the tournament with their dispensation claim and then afterwards pass your concerns on to AGB for clarification and or investigation. At World Archery events at National level: They should be allowed to participate in the tournament, their score can be used in the competition, records, ranking lists, target awards (but could be subject to investigation and reversal if found not to be within the rules, they should also be allowed to participate in any H2H s. Under World Archery rules at International level: An archer MUST have a classification, if they want a dispensation. (An our club, county, RS and WRS level we should be encouraging more participation in the sport, using the rules given to us to officiate at in a fair, knowledgeable manner)

When a disabled archer is progressing their archery and wish to shoot at higher levels they should get classified, if they require dispensation. We have a classifier within SCAS, she is based with BWAA at Stoke Mandeville. (details can be passed on) Eligible Classification injury types include: (must be a permanent disability) Impaired muscle power, Impaired passive range of movement, Loss of limb or limb deficiency, Hypertonia, Ataxia and Visual Impairments Non Eligible Classification injury types include: (must be a permanent disability) Pain, Low Muscle tone, Hyper mobility of joints, Joint instability, (such as unstable shoulder joint or recurrent dislocation), Impaired motor reflex functions, Impaired muscle endurance, Impaired cardiovascular or respiratory functions, Impaired metabolic functions, Tics and mannerisms, stereotypes and motor perseveration

AGB & WA Classifications: OPEN (formally ST (standing) and W2) Athletes may have impairment in the legs and use a wheelchair or have a balance impairment and shoot standing or resting on a stool. Open category athletes may shoot in recurve or compound competitions. (Athletes using a stool must have feet on the ground, where as Wheelchair athletes must have feet on the chair). W1: W1 Athletes may have impairment in the legs and make use of a wheelchair. W1 athletes may shoot either a recurve or compound bow modified from standard rules, do not have separate competitions for the two disciplines (feet must be on chair) NE: Non Eligible (National level only) Visual Impaired Classifications: V1:This category encompasses no light perception in ether eye to light perception, but inability to recognise shapes at any distance or in any direction V2 & V3: Both of these categories involve a low level of usable partial vision, those in this V3 category will be able to see more than those in the V2 category. V3 is the highest category used for International and Paralympic sport.

Examples of documentation that can demonstrate eligibility. Currant WA International classification certificate: Current Version Check Dispensation

Examples of documentation that can demonstrate eligibility.

Examples of documentation that can demonstrate eligibility. WA VI International Classification: Current version Check Dispensation

World Archery Rules World Record status Tournaments National and International events inc (Para). Under World Archery rules, an archer MUST have a classification, if they want a dispensation. For National events this need to be a National classification, issued by a classifier from the same country. For International events this need to be issued by two classifiers from different nations from each other and the archer. There is a classification for Non Eligible archers, this is where the archer does not meet the standard for international competition, their paperwork will allow the use of a stool etc

Equipment Inspections General Shooting Equipment (bows & arrows) is the same for all archers except for W1 archers, including VI archers who are also W1 archers. Classifications and dispensations are part of the archers equipment inspection. W1 Archers: Peak draw weight of bow is under 45lbs No peep sight or scope is allowed No leveling device Release aids are permitted VI Archers: shooting with a visual sight, can modify it, including adding magnification. (45lb limit to VI compound bows) W1 Archers use a full 80cm 10 ring face for ranking rounds and H2H s whilst Open compound and match play,the 6 ring 80cm face is to be used (only in Para specific events) because results are normally recorded by classifications.

Equipment Inspections Wheelchairs: A wheelchair of any type provided it has 4 wheels and conforms to the term a wheelchair (anti roll device is allowed) *The wheelchair should not exceed 1.25m in length, including archers feet. *No part of the wheelchair should support the archers bow arm whilst shooting at any distance. *The sides of the back support of the chair may NOT be further forward than half the width of the archers body on both sides. *The body support protruding forward from the main vertical frame of the chair, shall not be longer 100mm and shall be at least 110mm below the archers armpit. *All parts of the chair shall be at least 110mm below the archers armpit whilst shooting, at any distance. **W1 classified archers, if a medical reason is present and approved by the classifier it will be noted on the classification paperwork, this can be accepted.

Equipment Inspections

Equipment Inspections Shooting stools: Any stool of any type can be used as long as in principle it conforms to the meaning of the word stool. * No part of the stool can support the bow arm whilst shooting No part can be in contact with the archers trunk (no back on the stool for the archer to lean back onto) The area of the stools framed legs and archers feet must not exceed 60cm x 80cm along the shooting line.

Equipment Inspections Permitted body supports: Only W1 archers are allowed to use both a protrusion and strapping at the same time. They may use as much support/strapping to maintain body stability as long as none of the support or strapping is giving support to the bow arm whilst shooting. Other archers, only when their International classification card allows, may have a single strap, no wider than 5cm at any point and ONLY on the horizontal plane and wound only once around the torso. Some wheelchair archers may have leg strappings and only if authorised and noted on their International classification card. Release aids: * Any release aid may be used and may be attached to the wrist, elbow or shoulder or even held in the mouth and may also be permanently attached to the string. No release aids may be used in the Recurve open class, except mouth Tabs.

Head to Heads (H2H s) During H2H stages a VI archers don t move from their position on the shooting line. At WRS shoots (non Para), Para archers should be treated as other archers and should move during the stages of H2H s, just give them plenty of time to re- locate. At WRS Para events (such as the BWAA Champs and Disability Champs the archers have 30 seconds per arrow if taking part in individual alternating H2H. Ties: If there is a W1 tie and both reshoot a 10, then they re-shoot the tie again, whereas Open compound re-shoot if both shoot an X. This is easy to confuse as most W1 s shoot compound and shoot at 50m, so it is easy to apply the wrong tie rule.

Visually Impaired (VI) A VI Para archer is one with visual impairments. There are two divisions that are allowed : VI V1 athletes wear a blind fold (Should be worn whilst before entering the tournament field of play). VI V2/3 who do not wear blindfolds. These Para archers must be classified by an International Blind Sport Association (IBSA) Classifier nominated by the International Blind Sports Association for International Classification or BBS (British Blind Sports ) for National Classification. These archers are tested for visual acuity only. Visually Impaired archers must apply to World Archery for classification by using the specific Medical Intake form which can be accessed via the World Archery website. Visually impaired archers are allowed assistive devices such as blindfolds, tactile sights and an assistant or a coach.

VI Rules A VI archer using a tactile sight will shoot an extra end of sighting arrows at the initial distance, unless they opt not to. For all rounds that have a change of distance of the target, a VI archer using a tactile sight will shoot an end of sighting arrows at each distance change, unless they opt not to. A VI archer using a tactile sight will shoot a complete end of 6 arrows before retiring from the shooting line. Adjustment of the tactile sights and foot pegs by the archer or a 3 rd party can happen during sighting arrow ends and also between shooting ends. A VI archer is permitted a spotter, who are allowed to stand 1m behind the archer and give basic instructions to the fall of each arrow, but must not be a disturbance to other archers. A VI archer with a spotter, may only approach the target accompanied by their spotter.

VI Equipment: Equipment Inspections Sights: The dimension is allowed to be a max of 2cm. A WA compliant sight is no more than 2cm, under AGB rules there is no limit to size. AGB At no point can the sight be used as a resting device The sighting stand must not represent a hazard to others One set up the sight can be left in position until the end of the tournament The tactile sight must be able to be adjusted by the archer without moving from the shooting line. WA 2cm.

Equipment Inspections Foot Locators: The total width of the stand/foot locator shall not be more than 80cm 80cm 90cm The maximum depth of the functional part of the foot locator in contact with the archer shall not be more than 6cm. There should be a space of not more than 90cm between each tactile stand (measured from the nearest point on each stand) 6cm 6cm 6cm 6cm

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk about Disabled archery from a Judges point of view, I hope you have learned something new from this, I most certainly have. You will have quite likely noted there are many points missing, such as field layout (lane spaces) this would have been checked during range checks. Different issues, Prosthetics, Splints, leg blocks, bandages, different VI categories and their rules (Blindfolds) etc. These are the main issues you may encounter but there are many more and as more people are taking up disabled and Para archery the rules are evolving to suit more frequently. **The main focus for this presentation, if you do not know the archer in question, your unsure, ask to see their dispensation and equipment, they will not mind, in fact most have found they will welcome it and will go through it with you**

If you have any concerns or further questions, please do not hesitate to ask. Please contact either: SCAS Disabilities Liaison Officer: disability@scasarchery.org.uk Or Karen Hodgkiss at AGB. karen.hodgkiss@archerygb.org